TONYLEUNG.INFO
THIS IS AN ARCHIVAL DISCUSSION BOARD (2003-2012)
 
THIS IS AN ARCHIVAL DISCUSSION BOARD (2003-2012)
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE NEW BOARD
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE NEW BOARD

Feb 2009 Tony interviewed by Bazzar

 
   www.tonyleung.info Forum Index -> Tony Leung Schedule
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Info



Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 1691
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:35 am    Post subject: Feb 2009 Tony interviewed by Bazzar













Last edited by Info on Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:28 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
Info



Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 1691
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:59 am    Post subject:

梁朝伟 十八个影帝和一种自由

  从来没见过梁朝伟笑得这么开心。类似的笑容如果出现在20多年前,他是韦小宝或者江小鱼;如果出现在 10年前,他是《春光乍泄》中的黎耀辉者《阿飞正传》中的小混混;如果出现在五六年之前,他就是《无间道》中的不羁卧底陈永仁……入行 27年,他曾经拿到 18个影帝。我问他:你把得到的那些奖座放在哪里?他轻松回答:放在一个很不显眼的柜子里。你不问,我倒忘了。

  眼前这个半年前刚完成婚姻大事的男人,身材结实、肌肉健壮,古铜色的皮肤和洁白的牙齿在灯光下闪着微亮。这里是阳光猛烈、空气湿润的香港。这个冬天的午后,他在摄影师的影棚里接受我们的采访和拍照。他说最近每天的生活沉浸在练武、健身和出海的乐趣当中,偶尔还去滑雪,所以整个人变得开朗起来。

  “我喜欢一个人滑雪。空气清凉,周围一片洁白,很安静。看到房子都是小小的,完全没有高楼大厦。有一次和一个香港人面对面闲聊很久,他都没有认出我!哈哈……”他爽朗地笑。

  其实人生最想要的,也不过就是这样一种自由自在。

电眼之痛

  “小时候我很沉默,不喜欢和其他同学聊天。因为聊着聊着就会聊到家庭、爸爸……我就没什么可说的,很害怕和人家说这些。慢慢习惯把很多东西压抑在心里,表达不出来,但是眼神会表现出来的。所以说??这到底是好还是不好?对演戏倒是很有好处,但是很多东西我是说不出来的。”

  因为父亲角色的缺失,10岁之后的梁朝伟从顽皮变得孤僻。整个童年时期,他的朋友都不多,直到十几岁自己开始打工,然后用赚到的钱看电影或者打游戏机。这时候他认识了一个叫做周星驰的年龄相仿的街坊男孩,他们同样身处多子女的单亲家庭,并且由母亲坚强地拉扯长大的。新朋友的出现,让梁朝伟觉得生活有趣多了,而对方对于电影和表演的狂热也间接影响到他。大约数年之后,他们同时期出现在香港无线电视台,做儿童节目主持人。

  很短时间内,相貌风流俊俏的梁朝伟凭借一部接一部的古装电视剧,以每天一集的拍摄速度迅速走红。这也让他从此对于古装题材和化妆胶水产生了心理上的抗拒。

  1985年,他开始接拍电影《青春差馆》和《花心红杏》。作为无线力捧的小生,他的前途貌似顺风顺水,而三组戏同时开工的无奈,只有他自己清楚。日复一日超负荷运转,连续几天不能合眼?那一段时间,众人看他是一颗升起的新星,光华耀眼;只有他品味到内心的苦涩,和无处挣脱的困境。

  幸好他走进了电影。梁朝伟随后演出了《癫佬正传》和《地下情》,导演手笔皆不俗。而正是这样看似偶然的机遇,将梁朝伟顺理成章地引入了一开阔的世界。他之前积累的大量演技经验得到了丰富的鉴定与提升,隐藏于眼眸中的忧郁,更使他有机会突破以往跳跃飞扬的电视剧造型,从而塑造出一些截然不同的角色。

  导演关锦鹏曾经说:“他的眼神让我看到了忧郁,就算他演《鹿鼎记》,只要当他安静,那种神情就会马上浮现出来。”梁朝伟成为了关锦鹏电影里的张树海,并第一次获得了香港电影金像奖最佳男主角提名。

  “我之所以喜欢演戏,是因为可以躲在一个角色的身体里面去宣泄自己平时压抑的那部分,这让我觉得很舒服。而且也是让我释放自己的唯一方式。为什么会有那么多压抑?每个人都会有的吧,每当你不开心的时候,都不可能随时把心事抚平,那么就成为一种积累下来的东西了。”

  “什么事情会让我不开心?其实有大有小。有时候我喝不到一杯威士忌、吃不到一样想吃的东西也会不开心;养的小狗死掉了,会不开心;甚至有时候下雨,天气阴阴的,也会觉得伤感……可能我天生比较敏感吧。”

  看梁朝伟小学毕业的照片。很漂亮的学士帽、袍子和系着丝带的成绩单,他小小的一张脸上眉清目秀 ?只是,眉目间很明显地锁着一种与年龄不符的忧愁。

  “你觉得这是好还是不好?从小因为家庭的原因,我不太敢和同龄的孩子们交流,只能习惯地把感情放在心里。这样时间久了,眼神里就会有东西了。可能这种慢慢的积累,会对演戏有好处。但是这种经历是不开心的。”

  很长时间以来,梁朝伟身边的男性朋友都是比他年长的,很多都比他大十几岁、20岁甚至30岁。

  “我身边几乎很少有同龄的朋友,都是比我年长很多的。我习惯经常和他们一起见面,聊天、下棋、喝酒。我在他们身上学到很多生活的智慧。有时候遇到了不顺心的事,就会和他们讲,结果他们就会给我一些经验,认为这些事情其实很平常,只是我不够成熟。”

  已经 46岁的男人,还是不够成熟?

  也许只有父辈,才可能给出这样的教导吧。

忘我和无我

  “我觉得每一个角色都有我某一部分的性格在里面。当我去演一个人物时,尽量把自己变成那个人。因为那是在通过我去演,也通过我的大脑去想都是我的感情??哭的都是我的眼泪,笑的也是我的快乐。”

  最开始走红的电视艺员梁朝伟,是一个嬉笑怒骂皆成文章的活宝。他可以把一个人物学得活灵活现,可以动用自己的 100种表情去让观众疯狂。但是时间只过去几年,拍摄过几部电影之后,他发现自己仅有这些是不够的。

  1989年的电影《悲情城市》,导演侯孝贤剥夺了梁朝伟说话的权利,让他用眼神、表情和形体出演一个哑巴。这种局限反而激发了他对于人物的心理刻画能力,从而得到了国际影坛的首次认同。

  终于在一个颁奖礼之后的晚上,辗转反侧,他看到自己以前的表演仅仅只是一种“表演”。他没有看到角色,只看到一个努力表现却无法深入人物内心的自己,这感觉让他无比沮丧。他的技巧,逐渐成为表演的障碍。而他所能做的,只能是面对,并且跨越。

  1991年的电影《阿飞正传》终于给了梁朝伟脱胎换骨的机会,最开始拍摄时,面对王家卫严苛的要求,梁朝伟情绪一度跌落至沮丧的谷底。他不停NG,一个镜头重拍20多次。梁朝伟自认有丰富的演戏经验,但王家卫要的恰恰是最直接的一种,而这种表演方式,正是当时的梁朝伟所欠缺的?他太会“表演”,以至于失去了自然的韵味。

  张曼玉曾经说,正是因为拍过王家卫的《阿飞正传》,让她懂得了怎样演戏。

  也正是此时,王家卫给了如醍醐灌顶的梁朝伟最难能可贵的灵犀一点,使他的演技产生了质的飞跃。

  “我其实非常享受拍戏的过程,因为我喜欢这个工作的原因吧?我大概是从无线艺员训练班的时期,开始发现自己喜欢演戏的。我的性格比较喜欢慢慢来,我最害怕那种3个月就要拍完、还要做一大堆准备、导演有很多要求的电影……所以我就比较适应王家卫拍片的速度,我不会介意一部电影拍 5年、 8年,反正慢慢来拍到好,就行了……”此刻,他略带调侃地聊到与自己合作了18年的导演王家卫如此完美的默契,应该只有最了解彼此的人才会带给对方。

  “其实在演每一个角色的时候,我会多多少少把情绪带到现实生活里面。因为在开始准备一个角色的时候,我就会把自己慢慢‘逼进’那个人身体里,让自己的感受、行为带上他的特征。所以不论在演之前,还是之后,我都是不大好受的。”

  “我是怎么进入这个过程的?在我接演一个人物的时候,我先要知道他是怎样长大的,曾经有过什么事情影响他的经历?他是什么时候开始抽烟、喝酒、交女朋友?是什么样的家庭背景形成了他的性格……这些都是需要去了解和体会的。最后我才会考虑外表上的一些东西,比如说话是怎样的声音、走路的姿势、什么动作……这些也都是让‘我’可以成为‘他’的原因。”

  所以,据说在拍摄完《无间道》之后,梁朝伟还是会常常看剧本;而出演过《色 ?戒》的易先生之后,角色身上的阴郁气质也曾一度笼罩在他身上。

  “你现在看到我很阳光、健康,是因为我要演一个武林宗师,体能和精神当然都要非常好。所以我才有机会经常运动、晒太阳、练习咏春拳。如果是演一个汉奸,那我就会非常惨 ?整个人感觉很倒霉,脸都是黑的……”他一边说一边笑。

  同样是1982年“无线”艺员训练班培养出来的“五虎将”刘德华,勤奋拼搏演艺界 20多年,作为一个经典的偶像,演技却迟迟不被肯定。

  “我没有办法。我真的没办法……我现在还是一个艺人,而他已经是一个演员了。他可以忘掉‘梁朝伟’这三个字,而我,却没有办法忘记自己是‘刘德华 ’。”在一起出演过电影《无间道》之后,面对梁朝伟又获得的数个奖项,刘德华曾经发出这样的感叹。

  也许?演戏就如同练武,只有达到忘我甚至无我的境界,才可以炉火纯青?

保持第二的心态

  “我一直有这样的想法,凡事都做第一的人是压力很大的,也会成为所有人的目标。我不喜欢这样,觉得还是给自己一些空间,可以走在其他人前面,但是还有可以超越的对象 - 就是希望做第二,不要做第一。”

  曾经有一段时间,梁朝伟发觉自己在演戏方面遇到了瓶颈:感觉也就是这样了,没有更好的方法了。但是遇到了李安导演,有一个和从前完全不同的角色,他发现自己原来是可以再改善的。由此,他也更加坚定了“做一个演员,一直做下去”的信心,并且惊喜地发现,突破自己原来是充满乐趣的。

  “其实,有很多角色我还没有尝试过,一贯的也不是一两部电影可以突破的,这需要很多机会、很多积累才能突破。《色戒》是一个很好的开始,当然并不代表从那部电影就可以看到一个不一样的梁朝伟,但这是个好开始,我希望自己改变。我觉得不能一直演那种阴柔、软绵绵的男人。”

  “拍完《2046》之后,我和王家卫决定分开一段时间。合作太多就会有一点腻了,彼此太熟悉到没有激情。我想有新的尝试,需要一点新鲜感。我拍戏不是为了赚钱,而是为了好玩。重复过去的东西,我觉得没什么挑战,所以我们分开了起码有 3年。拍完《伤城》,拍了李安的《色戒》,现在又拍了吴宇森的《赤壁》。”在和李安的合作过程中,梁朝伟发觉自己某些一直沉睡的细胞被唤醒了。李安导演在处理人物方面的细致和严厉,无形中对他的演技提高了要求。

  而作为一个演员,需要对于自身条件有充分的了解和掌控。面对近在咫尺的镜头或者无数观众,他首先要具有一个强大的内心,之后才会有镇定自如的表现。

  为此,王家卫曾经这样评价梁朝伟:他是一个超级自信的人。“不论别人怎么说,我从来没有太大压力。所有称号都是别人给的,拍戏对我来说,最主要还是一种享受吧。我喜欢这种过程,至于电影出来好不好看就不是我应该担心的。所以,别人怎么说是别人的事 ?你说我很会演,那我就是很会演;你说我不会演,难道我就不会演了?我想,我之所以喜欢这个工作,并且一直做 20多年,最重要是觉得很享受,每一次跟其他工作人员很开心地过几个月,我就会很满足 - 这个过程很难忘记的。”他很有感触地说。

  最先启发他用心演戏的台湾导演侯孝贤,和梁朝伟的感情如父如兄。他曾经评论 - 梁朝伟是一个外表很平静,但是内心暴烈的人。

  其实细细想来,这里所谓的“暴烈”也可以理解成“富于变化”吧。作为一个优秀的演员,这是一个必需的要素。

  “我最怕做的事情就是像上班一样,每天都重复一样的表情和动作,日复一日,然后你的银行户头里就会多了一些钱……这不是我想要的。 ”

一瞬间,其实我们都可以明白梁朝伟的心态了。好像作为一个运动员,当你只是为了拿名次和奖金而争夺赛果的时候,你的眼界就只有很窄的一条线;而一旦放下了心里的包袱,你不再是为了名次,而是为了挑战自己去比赛的时候,你的内心放松了,视野就会更宽阔。永远做好自己,享受发现和挑战的过程 - 和自己赛跑的人,才是最有勇气的赢家。

结婚原来如此

  “我原来曾经以为,两个人在一起生活 18年,和结婚有什么区别呢?结婚也有可能会离婚,只要在一起开心最重要??结婚,有必要吗……但是真的到了这一天,做了别人老公,才发现原来这是可以让很多人都开心的一件事,还是要结婚的。”

  无可否认,梁朝伟曾经对于婚姻的态度,或多或少受到儿时父母婚姻失败、家庭破碎的影响。当时作为家里唯一的男人,他初中毕业就退学开始打工,辛苦艰难地面对社会的同时,也从此懂得了男人对于家庭的责任。

  “男人最重要的品质,当然是要有责任感。这一点不需要别人提醒,在我小时候就已经知道,一直以来都在做,家人会对我很放心。”

  很长时间以来,“家庭”对于梁朝伟来说就是相依相守几十年的母亲和妹妹,而相处 18年的恋人刘嘉玲则是自己的最亲密一半,两个人和谐舒适的相处过程已经表达了一切,不再需要一张证明去保证它的质量和长久。

  “和嘉玲在一起最开心的事,就是她很开朗活泼,可以平衡我的孤独和沉默。她的朋友很多也很喜欢热闹,我偶尔也会参加一下她和朋友们的 PARTY,觉得也不错啊,不可能一直都一个人待着,和大家热闹一下挺开心的。”

  梁朝伟自认为是一个很有耐性、比较慢热的人,面对认识很久的朋友,他才会敞开心扉。

  在他眼里,“嘉玲其实是外强中干,性格很强悍,但是内心难免会脆弱。而我是外干内强的人,反而容易坚定。我们刚好互补。有时候她会迷茫、不知道怎么办,我就会安慰她:放心,没事的。”

  性格爽朗的刘嘉玲和醉心演戏的梁朝伟爱情长跑了 18年。一直以来,外界经常以“各有各玩”或者“貌合神离”来形容两人的关系。而在这其中,时常会穿插扑朔迷离的绯闻、分分合合的揣测。经历过风雨,也见到过彩虹的两个人,为什么一直都不愿意结婚?这个问题反倒让无数局外人匪夷所思。

  “为什么我们决定结婚?可能最重要的原因是一年多以前嘉玲的父亲去世,老人家很希望可以看到女儿出嫁。后来想一想,我们其实也想让家人看见我们走到这一步,这并不是很困难的一件事情。”

  “曾经想过,结婚不过是一种仪式,我们两个人走过这么多年已经很默契,好像也很好啊,还需要这个仪式干什么?这种形式上的东西,不重要吧。但是经过了这个过程,我发现是蛮有意思的,同时我所做的也会让大家都觉得非常开心 ?我觉得结婚其实很好啊。”他带着满脸笑意,这样说。

  “你感觉到结婚之前和结婚之后有什么不同吗?”我问。

  “有什么不同……其实总的来看没什么,因为我们早已经像一家人一样在生活。最大的不同就是作为人家的老公,还是有很强烈的责任感。当然我一直都是有责任感的,只是现在感到和从前有一些不同了……”说着,他的眼睛已经笑弯了。

  生活正因为其富于变化,才会更加可爱。而人生中最美好的东西,迟早都会到来 ?即使你已经 46岁,即使你是拿过 18个影帝头衔的梁朝伟。

《芭莎男士》对话梁朝伟

《芭莎男士》:即将投入王家卫导演的新戏,现在每天都是怎么安排时间?

梁朝伟:我一直非常喜欢运动,人少的运动,比如滑雪、开船出海、跑步,或者打乒乓球。我现在每天生活很有规律:早上起床之后健身、练拳,下午天气好就出海去了,一个人看着蓝天和海面的飞鸟,放松呼吸新鲜空气,很好。

《芭莎男士》:《芭莎男士》作为“品位男人的教科书”,认为现代社会中,男人对于物质要求精致适用。请问平时您对自己的物质生活有何要求?怎样捕捉潮流资讯?

梁朝伟:除了工作,平时我喜欢舒服随意。经常穿 T恤牛仔裤。我很少看 SHOW或者时装杂志,但是我会自己买衣服,永远差不多是一样的风格,连款式也很像,就是要质料很好的、比较简单的经典款式。对了,我很喜欢今天你们为我准备的衣服。

《芭莎男士》:您如何看待金钱?人生中第一笔钱是什么时候赚到的?

梁朝伟:钱对我来说只是用来生活而已,没有更多意义或者其他用处。我第一份工作是中学暑假时帮军人村的超市送货,赚到了人生第一笔钱,不多,但是第一次可以用自己的钱去看电影,还买了一条牛仔裤,不知道有多开心。

《芭莎男士》:对于香港这个城市您怎样评价?

梁朝伟:我出生在香港,这里是让我有安全感的地方。虽然现在城市越来越嘈杂,空气污染也严重了,我还是觉得很难离开这里。我是一个不喜欢冒险的人,即使这里有很多让人不太满意的地方,还是让我觉得亲切,因为是我的家乡。

《芭莎男士》:您认为现在生活中最不能缺少的是什么?

梁朝伟:我的家人、朋友都不能缺少,当然还有我的身体健康、我喜欢的运动……还有我私人的空间,反正我不能缺少的东西太多了(笑)。

《芭莎男士》:第一次作为《芭莎男士》的封面人物,您可以对我们的读者说些什么?

梁朝伟:希望你们可以很开心地过好每一天,也希望你们的杂志越来越好啊。

Source: http://bazaartrends.com.cn/mens/2009-02/175906.shtml
Back to top
Info



Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 1691
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:38 am    Post subject:

Tony Leung 18 Best Actors and One Kind of Freedom

I have never seen Tony smiling like this before. If the same smile had happened twenty years ago, he was probably playing Wai Siu Bo or Gong Siu Yu; if it was ten years ago, it would have been Lai Yiu Fai in Happy Together; or if it was five or six years ago, he was probably in the role of Chan Wing Yan in Infernal Affairs. Being in the industry for 27 years, he has achieved 18 Best Actor awards. I ask him: "Where do you keep all your awards?" He casually replies: "They are placed in a plain cabinet, not eye-catching at all. If you hadn't asked, I would have forgotten about it completely."

The man in front of me, who has experienced the joys of getting married just a half a year ago, is in his best form. From his muscular physique, to his healthy skin tone, all the way to his pearly whites - he radiates a healthy glow. This is the sunny and sweltering city of Hong Kong. On this winter afternoon, he's sitting inside the studio for our interview and photo shoot. He says that lately he's been training and body building. In the midst of all his work, he has taken time to go sailing and skiing, which has in turn, made him more relaxed and happy.

"I enjoyed skiing by myself. The air is crisp and you're surrounded by a sheet of white. It is very peaceful. All the buildings nearby are very tiny, there's no traces of the city here. There was one time when I chatting with another Hong Kong person and he didn't even recognize me!" Hehe 哈哈... he laughs about that memory.

The one thing that people need the most, is actually the inherent sense of freedom.

The pain within his eyes.

"When I was young I was very quiet and I didn't like to talk with my classmates. I knew that as the conversation progressed, it would ultimately lead towards my family, to my father... I didn't have a lot of say and I was afraid to touch on the subject. Little by little I learned to hide my feelings inside, unable to express any of it. It was only my eyes that could convey it out. Was that actually a good thing? Being able to express with your eyes is great for an actor, but there are still things that I cannot express clearly.

Without a father figure in his life, his carefree and mischievous childhood nature changed dramatically after he turned 10. During his adolescent year, he didn't have many friends. It was only when he started working, that he would spend his money at the movie theatre and arcades. During this time, he met another neighbourhood teen named Stephen Chow, who similarly grew up in the same family circumstances as him. With a new friend at his side, Tony had more things to look forward to in life. Stephen's interest in film and acting also began to rub off on him. A few years later, both of them began working for TVB as hosts for their children programs.

In a short period of time, Tony began appearing in a string of ancient dramas. His face naturally lend itself to the ancient period roles and he was filming at the rate of one episode per day. With each passing day, his fame greatly increased. But at the same time, the exhausting hardships of filming ancient dramas also led to his dislike for them.

In 1985, he filmed 'Young Cops' and 'Fascinating Affairs'. As one of TVB's top promoted actors, everyone saw his future as one that was full opportunities. It was only he himself who really understood all the work that went behind it. There were many nights where he filmed straight through, going on days without sleep. No one else knew the hardships that this rising star had to endure.

Luckily, he found his way into films and acted in both 'The Lunatics' and 'Love Unto Wastes'. Under the director's guidance, he found more freedom in his work as an actor. Filming movies was an eye opener for him. With his accumulated experience, he was able to breakout from his past roles as the typical, happy-go-lucky character, to take on more challenging roles that allowed him to further develop his talent.

Director Stanley Kwan once said: "His eyes always have a sense of sadness. Even when he was filming 'Duke of Mount Deer', once he has quieted down from his role, that same expression will begin to appear. It was during his role in Stanley Kwan's movie, 'Love Unto Wastes' that Tony was first nominated for Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

"I like acting because I am able to hide myself behind my character and release all my constraints and pressures through the role. By doing so, I become more relaxed. This is also the only way that I can release me from myself. Why do I have so much pressure? Everyone has it. Whenever you're unhappy, you may not be able to easily release all your tension, and it'll eventually build up."

"What type of situation will make me unhappy? There's a mix of big and small things. Little things like not being able to drink a glass of whisky or not eating something I'm craving will make me unhappy. If the family pet dies, you will be sad. Even with the weather, there are times when you may feel sadness. Maybe I'm naturally born to be sensitive to these things."

From looking at Tony's elementary school graduation photo, everything from his cap to his gown shows a young and handsome boy. But within his eyes you see traces of sadness that is beyond his years.

"Do you think that's a good thing or not? From when I was very little, I was afraid of getting too close to my classmates due to my family situation. I learned to hide all my feelings inside. As time progressed, my eyes began to express everything I've kept hidden. Perhaps this form of expression is well-suited for acting, but all the experiences I endured were not happy ones."

Throughout the years, many of Tony's friends have been older than him, some by 20, even 30 years.

"I don't have a lot of friends that are around the same age as me. Many are older by a lot. I meet up with them quite often to talk, to play chess and to drink. I learn a lot from my friends as they pass off their wisdom to me. There are times when things don't progress the way I want, so I will talk to them about it. In the end, they will tell me things from their experiences. My problems seem much smaller in comparison. Perhaps my level of maturity is not quite there yet.

Already at 46, is that not mature enough?

Perhaps it's only people from his father's generation that could offer such guidance.

Forget me and lose me

"I think that in all the roles I play, bits and pieces of my own personality become ingrained in the characters. When I fully immerse into a role, I force myself to become a new person. The character itself has no life - it must pass through me in order to become real. As my thoughts become centered along with those of the character, there comes a point when I wonder if the feelings are actually my own. If I cry, those are my tears; if I laugh, it is also my own happiness."

When Tony Leung first rose to fame as a television actor, he often portrayed the role of the stereotypical, happy-go-lucky character. With a hundred different expressions at his command, he seamlessly brought all his characters to life. His talent did not go unnoticed by the audience and his popularity continued to grow. But after a few years at that pace and with a string of films under his belt, he realized that what he had in front of him was not enough.

In the 1989 film 'A City of Sadness', director Hou Hsiao-Hsien took away Tony's speaking ability, forcing him to use his eyes, his expression and body language to portray a mute character. This limitation stimulated his acting, allowing him to understand how to portray a character based on the feelings and emotions that are ingrained inside. From then on, he has been countlessly recognized by the international film circle.

Finally on an awards ceremony night, Tony came to a conclusion that all his acting from before had merely been a 'performance'. The acting did not come from within, and all he was doing was creating the outer appearance of his characters. When he saw himself on screen, he could only see his own struggling performance - the character he thought he was portraying was never there. This revelation left him quite depressed. His talent had somehow become his own barrier. The only thing he could do was to face it head on.

The 1991 film 'Days of Being Wild' finally gave Tony a chance to breakthrough his barriers. However at the start of the filming process, Tony had to withstand relentless demands from director Wong Kar Wai. His mood plummeted, which in turn affected his acting. He would continuously NG on his scenes, with one scene that took over 20 takes to film. Although Tony already had a solid acting background, what Wong Kar Wai wanted was the most basic form of acting. Was it something he lacked? What Tony knew how to do was to put on an elaborate 'performance'. Perhaps what he truly lacked was that simplistic and natural flavour.

Maggie Cheung once said that filming 'Days of Being Wild' allowed her to understand what acting truly was.

It was also because of this movie that brought Tony's acting to another level.

"Actually I very much enjoy the entire filming process. Is the reason because I enjoy this job? It was actually during the TVB Artiste Training Program that I realized I enjoy acting. I have an easy-going personality and I like to approach things at my own pace. My biggest fear was the pressure of having to film a series in the short span of three months. There's a lot of preparation work that needs to be done beforehand, not to mention having to fulfill the requests of the directors... perhaps this is why I prefer working with Wong Kar Wai. His pace is much more manageable. I wouldn't mind working on a film for 5, 8 years. The filming process does not have to be rushed."

Tony steers the conversation onto Wong Kar Wai, who he has collaborated with for over 18 years. Compatibility only comes with mutual understanding. It is the only way to bring out the best in each other.

"Whenever I'm in the process of filming, I tend to bring pieces of my character into my own life. To begin preparing for a role, I will force myself to feel what the character is feeling - diving straight into the heart of the character, until I slowly become the character itself. It doesn't matter if it's at the start of the production or at the end, but having such an intimate relationship with a character is not a comfortable position to be in."

"How do I engage in this process? When I take on a role, I first need to understand the character's background. What type of things influenced the way he grew up? When did he first start smoking, drinking, dating? Did his family and childhood experiences play a big part in the way his personality developed? All these questions need to be addressed. The last thing I will consider is the physical aspects of the character, such as the way he speaks, the way he walks, any sort of body language he makes... understanding these innermost details allow myself to transform into the character."

Perhaps this is why there's been talk of Tony continuously reading the script to 'Infernal Affair's after the filming was completed; or how his personality became dreary and monotonous after playing the role of Mr. Yee in 'Lust, Caution'.

"You've mentioned that I seem to emit a healthy glow. Right now I am in preparations to play the role of a martial arts master. My strength and energy must be in top form. That is why I've been exercising, suntanning, and practicing Wing Chun. If I was playing the role of a villain (*he uses the term 'Han Traitor' which is a traitor to China), will I become a foul, miserable person? Certainly he'll have a string of bad luck and quite possibly a dark cloud over his head..." he laughs as he explains.

Also graduating from TVB's Artiste Training Class in 1982 was Andy Lau, who along with Tony was one of the 'Five Tigers' promoted by TVB. Although he has been in the business for over 20 years and has become an idol in his own right, his acting skills have yet to be affirmed.

After filming 'Infernal Affairs' together, the audience was enthralled by Tony's arresting portrayal of Chan Wing Yan, which garnered him many acting awards. In response to all of Tony's recognition, Andy had said: "There's nothing I can do. It's not within my power... even now I am still an artiste, while he has long become an actor. Tony can reach the point where he can forget his own name - but I cannot forget that I am Andy Lau afterall."

Perhaps acting is like martial arts. You must reach the level of forgetting yourself or losing yourself completely - only then will you be able to go beyond.

Keeping at second place

"I've always believed the people who place first must always put on lot of pressure on themselves. Other people will look up to them and strive to attain their level of success. I don't really like this because I need to have my own space. I want to be able to stand in front of others without having the pressure to lead, because I know there is still someone in front of me. I don't want to be first, I only wish to come in second."

There was once a period when Tony felt his acting had reached a barrier. He was at loss of how to resolve it and wasn't sure how to progress forward. During this time he met director Ang Lee. It was because of him that Tony was given the chance at a role that was completely different from the ones before. It was through this role that Tony realized he could actually change and improve on his acting ability. From that experience onwards, he was certain that acting was the route for him, and that he must continue ahead on his chosen path. He also found that surpassing his own barriers gave him a greater sense of accomplishment and made the process much more enjoyable.

"Actually there are a lot of roles I haven't tried before. You simply can't rely on just one or two roles and hope to achieve any breakthrough performances in your films. You need to accumulate a lot of opportunities before you can have that type of outcome. 'Lust Caution' was a good starting point. Obviously it doesn't mean that through this one film you can see a completely different Tony Leung. But it was a good start, and I hope I can continue to change. I can't keep playing the same dull, unassertive characters anymore."

"After filming '2046', Wong Kar Wai and I decided to separate for a while. It gets boring if you collaborate too often, plus it's hard to recreate sparks when you know each other too well. I want new experiences, something more refreshing. I film not because of money, but because it's fun. If I continue to repeat things over and over, I don't find it challenging anymore. This is why we've separated for the past three years. After filming 'City of Sadness', I filmed Ang Lee's 'Lust Caution', and then finally John Woo's 'Red Cliff'."

Working with director Ang Lee allowed Tony's inner senses to be awakened. Ang Lee is very particular about the way his characters are portrayed. With his careful attention to detail, it ultimately meant that he demanded more from Tony, thus forcing his acting ability to reach another level.

As an actor, it is important to be fully aware of your body and your mind. You need to understand yourself in order to be in control. Many times you will be filming scenes up close or in front of an audience. You need to have strong awareness and control to maintain a steady performance.

Wong Kar Wai once said that Tony is someone who radiates self confidence. "It doesn't matter what other people say, but I've never given myself pressure. I don't care for the titles that other people give me. To me, filming is about enjoying the entire process. I don't concern myself wondering if the film would be good at the end. What other people say is their own business. If they say I can act, then I can act; if they say I can't, then does it mean I'll stop acting? The reason I enjoy this job and have been doing it for the past twenty years is because I relish in the entire filming process. I'm quite happy spending time on set with the cast and crew. Working on a project for several months gives me a sense of fulfillment and makes the entire experience memorable," says Tony warmly.

The first person to inspire Tony to put his heart into acting was Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao Hsien, who's relationship with Tony is like father-to-son or brother-to-brother. He once said that Tony radiates a calm appearance on the outside; inwardly however, he has a very passionate and fierce personality.

If you really think about it, that sort of passion is essential to an accomplished actor. Perhaps it was not meant to be there initially, but it has definitely become a welcomed form of change.

"I am most afraid of routine. I would not be able to handle sitting in a classroom everyday, having the same expressions and repeating the movements. The days will seem to drag on and on... this is not what I want for myself."

If we put ourselves in Tony's place, we can immediately understand what he's saying. Take an athlete for example -

If you win tournaments for the sake of fame and fortune, then the world in front of you will seem very small and insignificant. But if you release yourself from these constraints and compete for the thrill of the competition, then your field of vision will suddenly seem much broader. Always remember to do your best and take pleasure in the discovery and experience. If you compete against yourself in the race, you will most certainly come out as the worthiest winner.

So this is what marriage is like

"I use to always think, what difference does marriage make for two people who have been together for 18 years? Marriages can sometimes lead to divorce. Isn't our happiness the most important thing? Is there really a need for marriage... but when the day actually came and I became someone's husband, I finally realized that marriage can in fact bring happiness to a lot of people."

It's unquestionable that Tony did not have high regards for marriage after watching his parents' relationship crumble at an early age. As the only man in the house, he immediately started working after graduating from high school, facing the harsh society head on as he took on the responsibility of providing for his family.

"The most important thing for a man is to have a strong sense of responsibility. It is something that should be inherent within you, and also something I've understood from a young age. My family never has to worry about my committment to them."

For a long time, the term 'family' meant Tony's mom and younger sister, as well as his partner of 18 years Carina Lau, who has become his other half. With such a solid committment to each other, it didn't seem necessary to validate their relationship with a sheet of paper.

"The greatest thing about Carina is her lively and outgoing nature. It balances well with my own introverted personality. She has a wide circle of friends and enjoys socializing with them. I will sometimes join her at parties. The feeling is actually quite good. I can't be by myself all the time. Going out with others is quite enjoyable as well."

Tony believes he is a patient man and takes his time to warm up to other. To those who have known him for a long time, he is much more open and receptive.

In his eyes, "Carina appears very strong on the outside but is more fragile on the inside. I am exactly the opposite. This is why I can maintain a steady composure and be decisive on things. There are times when she may become unsure of how to progress, so naturally I am there to comfort her. I'll tell her to not worry, everything will be alright."

A free-spirited person like Carina and a serious actor like Tony have been in a love marathon for the past 18 years. The public has always had their own view on their relationship, either deciding they're the 'perfect match in appearances only' or that they each 'pursue interests apart from one another'. In the midst of it all, they have weathered many storms together and have emerged on the other side of the rainbow. Why did they not get married before? This question has been on the mind of the public for years.

"Why did we decide to get married? Carina's dad passed away over a year ago. That was probably our biggest reason for getting married. As a father, the most important thing is to see your daughter marry into a good family. When I thought about this later, I realized that we wanted our families to be there as we take this step together. It wasn't a difficult thing to do at all."

"I use to think that weddings are only a ceremony. We've been together for so many years now, is this really that important? But the whole wedding experience was much more than I thought it would be. It was not only meaningful to us, but it brought happiness to everyone around us. Marriage is actually great," he says as he smiles.

"What is the biggest difference between now and before you got married?" I ask him.

"Differences... there aren't many difference to be honest. Afterall we've been living like a family for so long. The biggest difference is knowing that I am someone's husband. Being in this position means I need to have a strong sense of responsibility. Not that I didn't have it before, but the feeling is slightly different," he says as his eyes crinkle.

A life full of promising changes makes living all the more meaningful. The best things will surely come - even if you're already 46; even if you are the winner of 18 best actor awards.

Harper's Bazaar speaks with Tony Leung

HB: You're about to start filming director Wong Kar Wai's new film. How do you arrange your time everyday?

TL: I love to exercise. I like sports that don't require a lot of people, like skiing, sailing, running and table tennis. I've set a steady regime for myself. Everyday I'll wake up early to go train at the gym and practice martial arts. In the afternoon if the weather is nice I will go sailing. It's very relaxing when I'm by myself in front of the sea, starring at the endless blue sky and watching the birds in the distance.

HB: Harper's Bazaar is a guidebook for the modern man. In today's society, it's not unusual for men expect more out of life. Do you feel the same way as well? How do you keep up with today's trends?

TL: Aside from work purposes, I generally prefer things that are more comfortable and complement how I feel. I often wear t-shirts and jeans, and rarely attend fashion shows or read fashion magazines. I buy my own clothes. However, I keep to the same style and rarely change the way I dress. As long as the material is nice, I prefer keeping things simple and classic. Oh, that's right. I really like the clothes you've prepared for me today.

HB: What are your thoughts on money and wealth? Do you remember when you earned your first paycheck?

TL: Money is simply something you need for daily living purposes. It doesn't have any significance nor any particular uses. My first job was during summer break in high school. I worked as a delivery boy for a supermarket. Although my first paycheck wasn't a lot, it was the first time I was able to use my own money to go to the movies and to buy a pair of jeans. It may seem like a simple thing, but it made me really happy.

HB: What are your thoughts on Hong Kong?

TL: I was born here, so I feel very comfortable and secure in the city. Even though it's become harder to deal with the mayhem of city life and the air quality has drastically worsened, I find it hard to leave Hong Kong. I am not a risk taker. It doesn't matter how many reasons there are against staying here. This is the only place that can offer me a sense of familiarity. Hong Hong is the place I call home.

HB: What are the things in life you can't live without?

TL: My family and friends. Of course there's also my health, the sports I enjoy... I might as well add in my privacy and personal space, since it already seems like I have a lot of things I can't live without. (Laughs)

HB: This is your first time on the cover of Harper's. What do you want to say to our readers?

TL: I hope that your lives are filled with happiness with each passing day. I also hope that this magazine will continue to get better and better.

Million thanks to sparkles_n15 (Jenny) for the translation!
Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
   www.tonyleung.info Forum Index -> Tony Leung Schedule All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group